Tummy Tuck: Stories

Ok I have a little more than 2 weeks before I get this surgery over with. I have been wanting to do it for a while but then changed my mind years ago but become determined with the decision to do it after having my fourth baby. I am anxious, excited, and onervous bit I am so ready for a flat tummy, its been too long since I've had one.

I had my pre op today and it well. All the aftercare sounds a bit overwelming but i am praying its not as bad as it sounds. 2 weeks left to go!

I have 9 more days left. I'm really ready to get it over with. I was wondering, I know your stomach looks flatter even with the swelling but can someone tell that you are wearing a compression garment under your clothes? Does your stomach appear smaller or larger with the garment on?

I have 5 more days to wait now. I cant believe the time is here already. I'm getting anxious and I am so ready to start the healing process. I will keep you all informed!!

It is the night before my surgery and I am wondering if I will get any sleep tonight. I have been up doing things all day trying to get prepared. I am beyond exhausted but I figure I am sure that I will get plenty of rest in the week to come. I have been cuddling with my baby, 1 year old, all day. I am so going to miss picking her up for a while and she is not going to accept it too well. My husband is taking off a week to help so I hope this is enough time and pray that I am feeling like doing alot of things on my own by the following week. I have read this pre-op and post-op paperwork over and over again, I think I will have it memorized soon, LOL.. I think I am going to hate having the drains that most and I hope they wont have to stay in beyond a week. I have read many posts on here and there is different reviews on what each lady feels after there surgery. Some ladies say that it is the worse pain ever and some ladies say that there is no major pain and only soreness. I guess I will be able to see on my own in less than 24 hours.

I have been home from surgery for about 10 hours now. I hate to say it but I feel horrible. This feeling of nausea will not go away. I have taken the medicine, ate crackers, and tried ginger ale. I did throw up one and it hurt sooooo bad, I felt like my stomach was coming apart. I am praying I wont throw up again but I do feel like I have to. Does anyone know of a good relief for this or had any past experience?

I found out I was so nauseus and throwing up was because I hadnt ate anything and I had so much medicine on my stomach. Since I wasnt able to eat crackers or soup my PS told me to drink ensure. I have done this now the sick feeling is not so bad. Now i am thinking back on the two times I throwed up bc my PS did say that my sutures on the inside muscle repair can come apart. I wish I had known to hold my stomach really tight at the time. I am still really sore but I will try and walk more today. I feel so handicapped.

Day 3 post op. Im on my way to the PS bc my draining tubes have me a little concerned. Yesterday one kept filling with a lot of clots then after that they didnt drain anymore. I thought it was a little strange to stop draining so soon.

My nurse noticed the clotting in my drains. She told me to continue the shots since they are blood thinners. She said not to worry if the fluid stays in my stomach instead of coming in my drains bc they can get it out. I hope that doesnt happen bc I already feel so swollen and bloated.I hate to complain but I feel miserable. I dont want to discourage anyone but I have a low tolerance for pain plus the nausea has started back and not mention so much indegestion. I know it will get better. I will post pictures later today.

Ok so I know everyone hates their drains. Its only been 6 days since I had my surgery and I have stopped draining for 2 days so far so I'm looking forward to getting them removed tomorrow. I wonder what causes some ladies to drain 2 and 3 weeks and others just a few days? I still am very much swollen and some areas look bigger than others. I pray that I am one that doesnt stay swollen for months. The pain is more like a soreness at this point. Also, It still hurts to get up. My husband could only take a week off and has to go back to work tomorrow so I will be alone with my 13 month old. I will not pick her up but I have let her climb into my lap while sitting on the couch. I put a pillow in front of my stomach bc she is so active. I will feed her on the go since I cant lift her into her high chair and hopefully before things get to hard my older children will be home from school to help. I will be going back to class Tuesday which I will only be 8 days PO so I hope I can stand up straight by then. Other than those two tasks I will be taking it easy and not going anywhere else or doing anything.

I got my drains removed today and I dont know who said it didnt hurt bc it hurt me. But it happened fast which is a good thing. I was told the healing goes uphill from here so I will patiently wait on the better days. I have a follow up in 5 weeks and was told most of my swelling should be down by then. I hope so bc I am ready to go shopping and get rid of this big shirts.

8 Days Post Op. I had to go back to class today and the walk from parking to my class was soooo far. I'm sure I will swell more. I'm feeling better and doing more now. I've uploaded new pics today.

Yesterday I started bleeding from my drain site and continue to bleed throughout the night. I didnt feel this was normal because my drains were removed 2 days prior and I know most people say the site closed immediately. I went to see my PS this morning about the issue. I found out I have developed a hematoma. A hematoma is a collection of blood under the skin, a blood clot. The blood clot begin breaking up and thats why it started coming out from the drain site. The area is bruised and is really hard to touch. I have to massage the area and apply warm compresses to encourage it to continue to drain out. I have to see my PS back in a week to determine if it has drained on its own. If it has not drained on its own then I will have to get the fluid removed with a syringe in the office but if its too much then it will have to be removed by liposuction. Yea yea it sucks but its something that can happen with this type of surgery. My PS said it will not affect my results and that its more of an inconvenience than anything. I am praying that it corrects on its own or that it could be withdrew with a syringe in the office bc I do not want any more lipo. I will keep everyone updated and happy healing to everyone else!!

Hello All! I am 3 weeks post op and I am loving my results so far. I would love to see my incision but the steri strips are still on and I was told not to remove them. I am on my way to get a hematoma removed below my belly button above my incision. It has to be liposuctioned out because it is really hard. Other than that, I feel great. I mainly have swelling at night and in the evening. I have posted new pics so you all can see the results so far.

Hello Everyone! I must say this has been quite a journey but I am really glad that I went through it. I do still have swelling in the evenings and night but other than that I am happy with my results so far. I have begun doing an intense massage of my stomach every night for about 15 min and this has helped alot. All of the hard areas of my stomach are soft now, although I have a little soreness from the massages.I have included a new pics, any questions, please feel free to ask!!

I must say that I am overall happy with my results this far. I admit that there were times I got discouraged with all the swelling but I do realize a tummy tuck is a major surgery and it just takes time to be fully healed. Even though I am back to my normal routine I still know I am not fully healed on the inside and that is the reason for the swelling. I still have numb areas above my incision so I continue to massage the area. Every now and then I get a tingling feeling too but nothing too drastic. I love the fact of being able to put on what I want and not have to worry about looking 3 months pregnant. It's a great feeling!!